Oyo State Governor Makinde Increased LAUTECH Security Guards’ Salary

In a move that has won widespread praise across Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved a dramatic increase in the monthly salary of security personnel at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), raising their pay from ₦18,800 to ₦80,000.

The decision came shortly after a courageous security guard publicly voiced his hardship during a town hall meeting with the governor at the university campus in Ogbomoso.

During the event, the guard identified only as Mr. Adeyemi stood up and, with visible emotion, described how his meager salary made it nearly impossible to feed his family or afford basic healthcare. “We stand for 12 hours a day to protect this institution, yet we go home hungry,” he told the governor in front of hundreds of staff and students.

Rather than dismiss the comment, Governor Makinde listened intently. “No one who works hard to protect our institutions should live in poverty,” he responded on the spot. “Your voice matters.”

Within days, the Oyo State Government issued a directive to LAUTECH management to immediately adjust the guards’ monthly wages to ₦80,000, effective that month. The new pay aligns more closely with state minimum wage standards and reflects the critical role campus security plays in maintaining safety and order.

The announcement sparked joy among LAUTECH’s security team. “We couldn’t believe it,” said one guard, who asked not to be named. “That one honest moment changed our lives. Governor Makinde showed us that leadership means listening.”

Students and lecturers also welcomed the move. “These guards are the first line of defense on campus,” said a final-year engineering student. “They deserve dignity and fair pay.”

Governor Makinde’s office confirmed that the salary adjustment applies to all non-academic security staff directly employed by the state at LAUTECH. Further reviews of support staff welfare are underway.

In a social media post following the decision, the governor wrote: “When a worker speaks truth to power, and that truth is heard, that’s how real change begins.”

The story has since gone viral, with many Nigerians calling it a rare example of responsive and compassionate governance in a time when public servants are often overlooked.